Do you believe you matter? I do. I believe you matter. Why? Because God created you to matter, not only to Him but to everyone who intersects with you throughout your life! I recently did a weekend talk series called Made For Great, the premise is that God has created you for great things. I started each weekend by having the crowd say out loud this affirmation: “I am made for great.” It was a little surprising to me as a speaker to see the consternation that speaking that statement out loud about them caused so many. It was as though they wanted to believe it was true, but it was so hard to believe. I learned that many believed it about the person sitting next to them or in front of them, but not about themselves. Don’t believe it? Stop and speak it out loud about yourself right now: “I am made for great.” How did it feel? Do you believe it? I mean truly believe it! So much that you know God has a purpose and plan for your life, one that is good, that you wake up every day with vigor and enthusiasm ready to live the adventure He has for you.
1. You Must Have A Clear Optimistic Vision
To believe you matter you must have a clear optimistic vision for your life as God’s masterpiece. Without a clear optimistic vision you are likely to live in apathy. Tap into His presence through prayer and reading His Word. Ask Him to empower you to clearly see the dream and vision He has for you. The more you are able to know with clarity, your God-given vision, the more you will believe with absolute assurance that you matter. What you do today matters. Your decisions, your work, and your interactions with others – you matter!
2. Maintain And Stoke Your Life Vision
Keeping and maintaining a clear optimistic vision for your life as God’s masterpiece requires regular attention. A lot like stoking a fire. I love building a fire in my fire pit in my back yard in the cool desert evenings. If you have ever built a fire, be it for camping, to relax with friends, have a few smores or to keep warm, you know that starting and building the fire is only the first step. You must stoke it and feed it with more wood to keep it going. Your life vision as God’s masterpiece is the same way. Not only do you need to be clear about it, you must stoke it and feed it every day of your life. Unattended, like a fire, it will run out of fuel and slowly burn out.
Stoke your vision today with the truth that you matter, take some positive action, do something to tap into the values you have on your Life Palette. The more you do, the more you will strengthen the belief that your life matters.
“…may he equip you with all you need for doing his will.
May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ,
every good thing that is pleasing to him.”
Heb 13:21(NLT)
Next Steps To Believe You Matter:
- Write a list of 25 positive things you believe about yourself. If you struggle with this, enlist the help of those who know you best and love you. The more you struggle, the more you need to do this.
- Evaluate your life vision: (if you have not written one with clarity, go to Life Palette and search the word vision for help in this area) is it clear and optimistic?
- What positive action can you take today to stoke your vision? Take action now.
